This Week in Berkeley Springs, WV April 2-8, 2012

The Easter Bunny is coming -- and Mother Nature decided to dress-up earlier than usual for the occasion so you'll be greeted with flowering trees, redbud and lots of that pale spring green. This is a weekend perfect to bring the whole family.

The big Easter Egg Hunt is in Berkeley Springs State Park Sunday at 1pm. The bunny comes on a fire truck! and everyone 1-10 years old is welcoming to search for eggs hidden in the park. It's all sponsored by the American Legion -- and it's seriously cute! Afterwards, come on down to the Star Theatre for a special matinee showing at 2pm of Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax." It will also be showing Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm.

Cacapon State Park is celebrating Easter in great family style with Decorative Egg Craft @ the Nature Center on Saturday at 10:30am and Easter Egg Coloring in the Lodge at 3:30pm. Their Easter Egg Hunt for 1 to 12 year olds is Saturday at 1pm starting at the Lodge. Other Easter Egg hunts include one on Saturday 10am at First Church's property on Fearnow Rd. just out of town. Cacapon State Park welcomes everyone to their Easter Sunrise Service at 7am on Sunday inside the Lodge. Plus, there are various church services on Good Friday and Easter sunrise. All are happy to welcome visitors.

Restaurants in town are gearing up for Easter dinner so get your reservations early. Cacapon State Park has a traditional buffet with lamb, ham and roast beef from, noon to 7pm. Temptations Cafe has the same traditional meat dishes as well as a long list of impressive fresh seafood including flounder, rockfish, salmon and sea scallops. Panorama at the Peak has special Easter hours on Sunday -- 11am to 7pm with brunch served until 2pm and singer/songwriter Larry Bish from 1-4pm. Both humanely raised ham and lamb are on the menu including vegetarian entrees. The Country Inn's Easter Brunch Buffet is from noon to 4pm and features lamb, ham and other traditional favorites. The Easter Bunny will be hanging at the Inn all during buffet hours. Among our other favorite eateries, Tari's Cafe is closed on Sunday so their employees can enjoy the holiday with their families but they'll be open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday. Lot 12 has their new spring menu including WV ramps -- and maybe even morels. We have other great places to eat, get coffee and donuts, sip wines or margaritas, have breakfast all day, buy fresh fixings to cook your own meal in your cabin or house -- check them all out on the dining page and make your choice.

For nightime fun on Saturday, hear the great young band, Banana Express at the Troubadour starting 9pm -- and perfect for dancing. Transition Talks of Berkeley Springs has author EDee Conrad making a presentation on "What Is Happening – How To Prepare For It," Friday at 7pm at the Ice House. Friday from 2-5 pm Tammi Georgia will have a book signing at Portals and will be back there on Saturday for destiny readings. Be sure and call for an appointment.

Flowers, plants and fresh produce as well as other treats are available in the center of town at Sunday's Farmers Market from 10am to 2pm. All the other shopping opportunities in town -- from antiques, fine art and jewelry to books, bath oils and bird feeders -- are all open for you to browse and buy all weekendlong. Just stroll the main streets around the park in the heart of town, pop in every door you see open, and you'll find treasures you never imagined as well as friendly shopkeepers ready to answer any questions. Make certain you wind around to the Wilkes St. Wine Shop with wine tastings every Saturday afternoon -- and plenty of well priced wines for you to take home or to your room.

Spas are always a way to feel revived and ready for spring. Check out the remarkable array of treatments available at our various spas and make an appointment or three now. The famed warm mineral springs that inspired the spa industry -- and have done so for hundreds or years -- are always open in Berkeley Springs State Park where you can wade in the springpools and take home water from the park pump. If you want to know all the cultural and natural history of the springs and town, visit the Museum of the Berkeley Springs in the park, open Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm -- another attraction the kids will love.

For outdoor lovers, Cacapon State Park is the place to go with miles of mountain hiking trails, fishing in two lakes and the 18-hole golf course. Another favorite walk popular with families is the C&O Canal Towpath especially the Paw Paw Tunnel, largest manmade structure on the canal and a great walk-through. The drive west over the mountains to Paw Paw in the western part of the county, is worth the trip. Sites along the way include driving by Berkeley Castle and stopping to gaze at the spectacular Panorama Overlook.

Now for the best part! Where to stay? Families should check out Cacapon State Park and a variety of cabins, farmhouses and vacation homes available for a couple or a family with kids and their friends and pets. Check out the lodging list and make your choices but act quickly -- the beautiful spring weather promises to make this weekend a busy one. And, if it's spring break for you and you are looking for weekday specials --especially check out Highlawn Inn, an elegant, intown B&B with a package that includes dining coupons for Tari' Cafe and Spa treatments at Atasia Spa. Berkeley Springs Inn-Best Western also has affordable packages that include dining at A ngus and Ale and spa treatments.